Acidity Cleanse

Acidity refers to a set of symptoms caused by an imbalance between the acid secreting
mechanism of the stomach, the proximal intestine and the protective mechanisms that
ensure their safety. The stomach normally secretes acids essential for the digestive
process. These acids break down food during digestion. When the gastric glands of the
stomach produce excess acids, it results in acidity. Nowadays, our lifestyle and dietary
habits are such that they increase the acidity level of the body. Acidity is also
responsible for dyspepsia, heartburn and ulcers (erosion of the lining of the stomach or
intestines).

Air we breathe is acidic, water we drink is acidic, food we eat is acidic but we offer a solution.

Dr Piyush Saxena
Ph.D., Naturopathy, USA

Watch the Video

In this video, Dr Piyush Saxena, Kunicka Sadanand and
B.P. Gaur, Retd. Chief Commissioner (Income Tax) and Spiritual Master,
discuss the
problems of acidity that most of us face due to living in stressful conditions. They describe the ways in
which you can overcome this problem by means of fresh green vegetable juices! This is a highly recommended
cleanse for anyone who eats junk / fried food.

Watch this video to learn how to detox your body from toxic chemicals and bring back your health and
vigour. Let you body heal itself by allowing it to function normally.

Acidity

Acidity refers to a set of symptoms caused by an imbalance between
the acid secreting mechanism of the stomach and proximal intestine,
and the protective mechanisms that ensure their safety. The stomach
normally secretes acids essential for the digestive process. These
acids help in breaking down food during digestion. When there is
excess production of acids by the gastric glands of the stomach,
it results in acidity. Nowadays, our lifestyle and dietary habits are
such that they increase the acidity level of the body. Acidity is
also responsible for dyspepsia, heartburn and the formation of
ulcers (erosion of the lining of the stomach or intestines).

Acidity is measured in terms of pH. In humans, the normal pH of all tissues and fluids of
the body (except the stomach) is slightly alkaline. The acid- base balance of our blood plays
an important role in normal day to day functioning of our body. Even a slight
imbalance affects the vital functions of the organs, resulting in various health problems.

Acidic, alkaline solutions and pH

The term pH stands for power or 'potential of Hydrogen'. It is the
negative logarithm of effective hydrogen ion concentration or
hydrogen ion activity in gram equivalents per litre of the solution. It
is measured on a scale of 0 to 14 (neutral is seven).

The lower the pH, the more acidic the solution and the higher the pH, the more alkaline.
For example, a pH of 5 is more acidic than a pH of 6 and a pH of 9 is more alkaline than a
pH of 8. Water (H2O) is made of one hydrogen (H+ ) and one hydroxyl (OH-) ions.
When these ions are in equal proportions, the pH is a neutral 7.
When there are more H+ than OH- ions, then the solution is acidic.

If OH ions outnumber the H+ ions, then the solution is alkaline. The
pH scale is logarithmic, which means that each step is 10 times
different than the previous level. In other words, a pH of 4.5 is 10
times more acidic than a pH of 5.5 and 100 times more acidic than
a pH of 6.5.

What is normal pH level?

In healthy adults, the pH levels of blood, spinal fluid and saliva is
approximately 7.4. The pH of the blood is most critical. All other organs
and fluids fluctuate in their values to keep the blood pH level strictly
between 7.35 and 7.45 (slightly alkaline). This process is called
homoeostasis. The body makes constant adjustments in tissue and
fluid pH to maintain this very narrow pH range in the blood. This
creates stress on other tissues or body systems. For example, the
body draws the necessary calcium from bones and other alkaline
substances, such as the muscles, so that the heart and brain function
at full levels.

Importance of proper pH balance

Virtually all degenerative diseases, including heart disease, arthritis,
osteoporosis, kidney/gallbladder stones and tooth decay, are
associated with excess acidity in the body. Cancer and many other
diseases cannot exist in an alkaline environment.
When the pH of the body gets out of balance and becomes too
acidic, we may experience low energy levels, fatigue, excess weight,
poor digestion, aches and pains and other more serious disorders.
The symptoms listed on page 41-42 become more prominent.
Regardless of your current health situation, you can monitor
your progress toward a proper acid-alkaline balance by testing your
saliva's pH. The pH of our saliva parallels with that of the extracellular
fluid and represents the most consistent and definitive physical sign
of the ionic calcium deficiency syndrome.

How to test pH of saliva?

The acidity level of the human body is not routinely checked. During
endoscopy, it is sometimes measured in terms of the pH levels of
gastric juices. However, there is a simple way to test the pH level
of saliva.

I have shown a sample of a strip on page 35. For testing the pH of
saliva, a red coloured thin liquid called pH testing liquid (measuring
5 ml) is available with all big chemists. If you mix your saliva with
this liquid, then the colour changes to one of the eight colours, as
shown in the picture on page 36.

Another way to test the saliva (and also urine) pH is to use a pH
test strip kit. The pH of the non-deficient and healthy person is in
the slightly alkaline range of 7.3 (dark blue) to 7.1 (blue). The range
from 6.5 (blue green), weakly acidic, to 4.5 (light yellow), strongly
acidic, represents states from mildly deficient to strongly deficient,
respectively.

The pH of the saliva of a newborn child is normally 7.35 (strongly
alkaline). More than half the adults show a pH of 6.5 or lower,
reflecting calcium deficiency, due to aging and lifestyle defects. A
cancer patient's test result will usually show a bright yellow (a pH of
4.5), especially when the cancer is terminal. You should endeavour
to keep the pH of your saliva at 7+ level. Then, you will have no
health problems.

Acidity facts

Rain, in forests, is alkaline, but in cities, it is acidic, due to industrial pollution.

Sea, spring, river and flowing water (naturally occurring water) are alkaline.

Chlorinated tap and swimming pool water are acidic.

Primarily, only raw green vegetables and fruits are alkaline, whereas, most other common foods that we eat are acidic.

Lemon juice tastes sour because it contains 5% to 6% citric acid and has a pH of 2.2. (high acidity)

The stomach acid is quite strong. Its pH is between 3 and
5. At this pH, it can dissolve deep fried and difficult to digest
foods. The stomach secretes around 1.5 liters of acid per day.

How does the body become too acidic?

The body becomes imbalanced and overly acidic, primarily as a
result of three things:

Ingesting acids

Eating too many acidifying food, such as processed sugar,
meats, dairy products, coffee and alcohol, create an acidic
ash in the body. These acids can overload the body’s ability
to neutralise them.

Creation of acids

Pathogens create acidifying toxins in the body. As the body
becomes more acidic, more and more harmful bacteria and
yeast proliferate in the body. These organisms eat as well as
procreate, resulting in more toxins that are often very acidifying.

Improper elimination of acids

Some acids are weak while others are strong. Weak acids, such
as citric acid, are more easy to neutralise than strong acids,
such as uric acid. The body uses many systems to buffer acids,
including breath, mineral reserves and fat. When the body’s
buffering systems are compromised, acidity increases.

Effects of acidity

Maintaining the proper pH in the blood, digestive tract, tissues and
fluids is essential for optimal health. High levels of acidity in the body
can have far reaching consequences. For example, if the blood
becomes too acidic, then:

It takes some of the alkaline forming elements from the
enzymes in the small intestine to stay balanced. The small
intestine then becomes less alkaline to digest food optimally.
The pancreas, gallbladder and liver are forced to make up for
this deficiency to metabolise food properly. This has a direct
bearing on metabolic enzyme production, which is involved in
every biochemical reaction in the body. The resulting problems
are lowered immune function, fatigue, hormonal imbalances,
absorption and digestive problems.

The bones lose calcium, the most alkaline mineral in the body.
This can lead to reduced absorption of supplemental minerals
and bone density problems.

Insulin levels increase and fat gets stored instead of being
metabolised. When malnutrition or starvation sets in, the
body becomes acidic and, as a safety measure, insulin is
overproduced so that all available calories are stored as fat for
future use. As a result, weight gain takes place. Once obesity
sets in, weight loss becomes difficult.

Electrolyte imbalances occur, which have a direct bearing on
the fluid transport system. Electrolytes are important because
the cells, especially nerves, heart and muscles, use them to
maintain voltages across their cell membranes.

Additional stress is placed on the kidneys, gallbladder,
pancreas and other organs.

Hyperacidity

It is a widespread common disorder. If not treated in time, it leads to
ulcer formation in the digestive tract. Chronic hyperacidity interrupts
all cellular activities and functions, and interferes with life itself.

Causes

It is mainly caused when hydrochloric acid, an important component
of the digestive juices, is produced in excess, due to the following:

Symptoms

Acidity or hyperacidity may manifest in more ways than those listed
below. This list is not exhaustive:

Burning sensation, pain or discomfort in the throat and chest (behind the breastbone) known as heartburn

Blood in stool

Headache

Lack of appetite

Nausea

Pain in the abdomen, either immediately after meals (gastric ulcer) or two hours after meals (duodenal ulcer)

Persistent cough

Sour oral secretion/belching, with an acidic taste in the mouth, due to regurgitation of acidic fluid in the throat or mouth

Vomiting, sometimes accompanied with blood

Acidity Cleanse

If your saliva pH is too acidic, you may have to increase the alkalinity
of your body. This can be done by including green vegetable juices
in your diet. Green juices are a potent fuel in maintaining good
health; and they do not come burdened with fats that accompany
animal products.

Green vegetable juices

Fresh green vegetable juices work as detoxification drinks and have
a powerful effect on the recuperative powers of the body, because
of rich and easily absorbable nutrients. Fresh vegetable juices contain proteins,
carbohydrates, chlorophyll, mineral electrolytes and healing aromatic oils. Most
importantly, a fresh juice makes large amounts of plant enzymes available to
every cell in our body, an integral part of the healing and restoration process.

Green vegetable juices also contain large amounts of vitamins B 1
(Thiamine), B2 (Riboflavin), B6, B12, C, carotene, choline, folic acid
and pantothenic acid. They are high in minerals, such as calcium,
copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, potassium and phosphorus.
They are full of enzymes useful for digestion and assimilation; some
contain over a hundred known enzymes necessary for human cell
response and growth.

Green drinks also have anti-infective properties. They remove acid
wastes, increase body pH levels, and are an excellent source for
mucus cleansing. They can also help in clearing the skin, cleansing
the kidneys, purifying and building blood supply.
Green drinks are critical to the success of not only the Acidity
Cleanse but also for every cleansing program. The chlorophyll
present in various green juices is highly alkaline and forms the basis
of our treatment.

Blood tonic - chlorophyll

The molecular composition of chlorophyll is very close to that of
human haemoglobin. These drinks can act as mini-transfusions
of blood and tonic for the brain and the immune system, since
chlorophyll is absorbed directly into the blood stream.

Comparison of human blood haemoglobin and plant blood chlorophyll

Blood and chlorophyll resemble each other structurally in the following manner:

Both have porphyrin nucleus. Also, the substitutions in 1, 3, 5,
8 (methyl groups) and 2 (vinyl group) positions are the same.

Both yield porphyrin upon degradation.

Both are composed of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen.

Both have metallic portion in a complex form. There is iron in blood and magnesium in chlorophyll.

How to make vegetable juice?

Only use clean and fresh vegetables. You may combine different
vegetables in any proportion to suit the needs of your body and taste.
Organically grown vegetables are preferred.

Alternatively, they may be soaked overnight in potassium
permanganate (KMnO4) solution. I use fresh vegetables (which may
have been cultivated using pesticides and fertilisers), purchased from
the ordinary market, without potassium permanganate.

I feel that after undergoing numerous Kidney and Liver Cleanses,
the immunity of the human body is sufficiently enhanced to fight the
detrimental effects of pesticides and fertilisers.

Do not mix fruits and vegetables while extracting the juice. Wash
the vegetables, cut them into small pieces and put them in a juicer.
Buy a juicer if you don't have one. Meanwhile, you may use a mixer-
cum-grinder. Strain this mixture through a coarse strainer (Úveveer)
with large holes, so that you get enough fibre. The large holes in the
strainer allow medium and small pieces of fibre to flow with the juice.
Only large pieces, which you find difficult to swallow are strained.
The residual green paste can be used in chapati flour.

Drink it fresh, since it spoils quickly. Do not use it beyond 11⁄2
days, even if it has been stored in the fridge. For example, if you
have prepared the juice today morning, you can use it only until
tomorrow evening.

Check whether your stool sinks or floats

Whether your stool sinks or floats is dependent on its fat as well
as water soluble content. Stool that has spent a relatively long
time in the large bowel (constipation) will have had most of the
water removed and will be dense and heavy, so, it will sink. In
comparison, when someone is suffering from diarrhoea, the
stool is rushed along the large intestine and very little water gets
removed. This results in loose stool, which tends to float.
The condition that can affect the colour and density of stool
is malabsorption, where some of the vital nutrients from the diet
are not absorbed by the small intestine and are left in the stool.
This occurs when the pancreatic gland is not working properly,
and can result in the passage of large, pale coloured stool, which
floats due to the high fat content. Sometimes, they float due to
microscopic air bubbles, trapped inside.

Whatever be the condition, observe your stool after drinking
200 ml of green vegetable juice three times a day for a week.
Ingested food will be well digested and absorbed. All the fat will
be properly metabolised, the stool will become soft and will sink.

Dosage

Remember that I want you to take enough fibre, chlorophyll, proteins,
carbohydrates, mineral electrolytes and nutrients in their natural
form. Drink one glass (200 ml) three times a day (nearly 600 ml in
a day). After that, decide on the quantity best suited to you. Modify
the dosage according to the tolerance level and physical condition
of your body. Bear in mind that it is impossible for us to imbibe these
juices in excess, since nature has designed us to eat raw food and
has provided an inbuilt limiting mechanism that helps us know when
to stop.

Witness the miraculous cure, for all your problems, unfold within
a week. Many of my friends have replaced their morning tea with
a glass of green vegetable juice. Drinking this fresh green juice
overnight fights stomach acidity and provides a great start to the day.

Ingredients and tools to make green juices

Green vegetable juices

The juices included here have been used with therapeutic success for
many years. You can be confident about their nutritional healing and
regenerative ability. A random selection from the following vegetables
can be used to start with, in the same or lesser quantity.

2) All citrus fruits, e.g., orange and lemon, are acidic,
however, all juices are digested in the stomach and give
an alkaline effect, as desired. It can be verified by burning
the juice of these fruits. The residue will come out to be
alkaline in a litmus test.

Special vegetable juices

Some specific combinations for individual needs are given below.
Try them thrice daily for a week to notice a difference. You may omit
any vegetable, if it is not available or does not suit you:

Potassium juice
Make juice using three carrots, three celery stalks, one bunch
of spinach and one bunch of parsley.
This is the single most effective juice for cleansing,
neutralising acids and rebuilding the body. It is a blood and
body tonic that provides rapid energy and system balance.

Personal best V-8
Make juice using eight green tomatoes, four green onions with
tops intact, one capsicum, two carrots with tops intact, two
celery stalks, one bunch of spinach, one bunch of parsley
and two lemons.
Personal best is a high vitamin/mineral drink for normalising
body balance.

Cleansing energy tonic
Make juice using four cups of mixed sprouts (e.g., sunflower
and/or moong dal), one large carrot, one celery, one cucumber
and one green onion.
It is a good afternoon 'pick-me-up' juice during a seven day
cleanse.

Kidney flush
Make juice using four carrots with tops intact, one cucumber,
four beets with tops intact, one handful of spinach and four
celery stalks.
Kidney flush is a sure shot kidney cleanser and diuretic, with
high levels of potassium and other minerals.

Fungi/yeast cleanser
Make juice using one bunch of parsley, two garlic cloves, six
carrots and two celery stalks.
This juice is beneficial in treating all type of fungi and yeast
problems.

General health tonic
Make juice using four carrots, one cucumber and two celery
stalks.
Regular intake of this tonic increases stamina and vitality.

Prostate cleanser
Make juice using two large handfuls of mixed dark green
leaves, especially spinach, chinese kale, collard and
dandelion and three large green tomatoes.
This juice can be had regularly after the age of fifty for better
prostate health.

Skin cleanser
Make juice using one cucumber, one bunch of fresh parsley,
100 gms of alfalfa sprouts and four sprigs of fresh mint.
This deep green cleanse nourishes and tones skin tissues
from within.

Excess body fluid/water cleanser
Make juice using one cucumber, one beet, one radish, one
apple without seeds and four carrots with tops intact.
You can lose a couple of kgs by drinking this juice.

Calcium/magnesium juice
Make juice using two garlic cloves, one handful of parsley, one
cucumber, four carrots with tops intact and two celery stalks.
This helps in reducing high blood pressure.

Arthritis relief detox
Make juice using a large handful of spinach, a large handful
of parsley, a large handful of watercress, five carrots with
tops intact and three radishes.
Arthritis relief detox increases the flexibility of all joints and
can be done along with a Joint Cleanse.

Bladder infection detox
Make juice using three broccoli flowerets, one garlic clove, two
large green tomatoes, two celery stalks and one capsicum.
This detox juice increases bladder health and cures Urinary

Cleanse for Crohn’s disease and colitis
Make juice using three handfuls of greens - one bunch of
spinach, one bunch of parsley and one bunch of chinese kale
or collard; and three beets with tops intact, five carrots, one
capsicum and one apple without seeds.
You can get relief in colitis and other digestive problems by
drinking this juice regularly.

Diverticulitis detox
Make juice using one large handful of parsley, one small
green cabbage, two large green tomatoes, four carrots with
tops intact, four garlic cloves and two celery stalks.
This juice not only brings relief in case of diverticulitis, but
also promotes over all digestive health.

Piles and varicose veins detox
Make juice using three handfuls of dark greens, such as
chinese kale leaves, parsley, spinach or watercress and
five carrots with tops intact, one green bell pepper and two
tomatoes.
Due to excess vitamin C, calcium and bioflavonoid, collagen
production increases, which helps in growth of new elastic
tissues.

Constipation cleanser
Make juice using one small green cabbage, three celery
stalks and five carrots with tops intact.
You can benefit in almost all types of constipation problems
by drinking this juice for a few days every month.

Fruit juices for specific needs

Drinking fruit juices are a quick wash for the insides of your body.
Their high water and sugar content speeds up metabolism and
releases wastes quickly. The alkalising effects of these juices helps
in reducing sweet cravings:

Blood builder
Make juice using two bunches of grapes, six oranges and
eight lemons. Mix the juice with two cups of water and four
teaspoons of honey.

Allergy cleanser
Make juice using fresh ginger root, one fresh lemon, six
carrots with tops intact and one apple.

Stomach cleanser and breath refresher
Make juice using one bunch of grapes, one basket of
strawberries, three apples and four mint sprigs.

Prostate purifier
Make juice using one lemon, one inch of sliced ginger and
one bunch of green grapes.

Piles and varicose vein detox
Make juice using one cup of cherries without seeds, one
bunch of green grapes, two slices of a pineapple, one apple
and one inch of sliced ginger.

Arthritis and bursitis detox
Make juice using two peeled oranges, two pineapple slices
and one apple.

Constipation cleanser
Make juice using one firm papaya, one inch of sliced ginger
and one pear.

Acne fighter
Make juice using two pineapple slices, one cucumber, one
apple and one inch of sliced ginger.

Home remedies

To get immediate relief from acidity, try any of the following:

Drink 200 to 500 ml of cold milk

Drink sugared cold water

Eat tender pulp of coconut

Drink coconut water

Eat watermelon, banana or cucumber

Chew basil (leguemeer) leaves

Drink fresh mint (hegoervee) juice

Suck on a clove or chew an almond

Drink cold banana milk shake

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it possible to survive only on vegetable juice for a week?
Yes, it is a wonderful experience. Initially, you have a craving for mastication. Then, you can chew carrots or cucumbers.
How many times-a-day should I take this vegetable juice?
Try to take at least one glassful (200 ml) three times a day initially. Observe the results within a week. You will
notice that your stools start to sink, whereas they used to float earlier, due to the undigested fat. Later, you may
decide the quantity that best suits your body and lifestyle.
What if I eat raw vegetables instead of making juice? Will it have the same effect?
Obviously, you will get more fibre and benefit if you eat raw vegetables. However, the quantity consumed is very
important. It is not practical to eat the large quantities of raw vegetables necessary to derive the desired benefit and
so I have prescribed juice for convenience.
Isn't there a possibility of getting an infection while drinking the green juices as the vegetables are
cultivated in unhygienic conditions?
Eating raw vegetables or drinking their juice is unlikely to cause
any harm. We eat raw vegetable salads in restaurants. You already
have good levels of immunity in your body. You can raise your
immunity levels further by doing Kidney and Liver Cleanses. If you
wish, soak the vegetables overnight in a solution of potassium
permanganate (KMnO 4 ) for safety.

The normal immunity level of a common person is very good. On
Dec 02, 2015, the entire city of Chennai was flooded. Sewer water
got mixed with the water supply provided by municipal corporation
at some places. However, there were no outbreaks of diseases or
epidemics. This was not due to spraying of insecticides or pesticides,
but because general immunity levels of people are good. I am also
against drinking bottled or so called mineral water. Regular tap water is
good enough for 98% of the urban population. The remaining 2% also
have good immunity levels, but the marketing jargon of water bottling
companies confuses the consumer. They decide to avoid risks and
follow the advise of drinking bottled or mineral water.

I drink tap water without any problems. Don’t we rinse our mouths
and gargle after brushing with regular tap water? Only a few drops
of contaminated water may have enough germs to make us sick.
However, we rarely fall sick even though we use tap water regularly.

Should we boil the vegetables for juice?
No, because you get vegetable soup if you boil them. They are not even to be heated.
Can we add salt to the juice?
Yes, you may add salt to taste.
Can we add lemon juice to it?
Yes, you can. You may juice it with the skin on but without the seeds. Lemon skin is very nutritious. We use ‘neembu
ka achaar’ for relieving stomach pains.
Can red tomatoes be used instead of green tomatoes to make vegetable juice for an Acidity Cleanse?
Unripe and raw green tomatoes have greater nutritional value
and a lot of chlorophyll. The alkalinity of green tomatoes is far more
than the red ones and hence, they are the preferred choice. Nature
turned ripe tomatoes red so that birds and animals identify them as
food.
During an Acidity Cleanse, I pass more gas than normal. Is it ok?
Some vegetables have a tendency to make gas in stomach.
Identify those vegetables and remove them from your list. They
may be cauliflower, radish or beans. Some people develop it for a
few days, but it settles down on its own. This gas is odourless.
However, if any of the vegetables cause you some sort of
discomfort, you can avoid it.